Offset head riveting gun

ABSTRACT

An elongated cylinder body including front and rear ends and having a piston reciprocally disposed therein and an elongated angulated extension on its forward end whose free end terminates in a reversely angulated elongated guide structure generally paralleling the cylinder body. A reciprocal follower is supported from the guide structure for guided movement therealong and includes a rearwardly facing abutment surface while the piston includes a forwardly facing abutment surface. An elongated impact member is reciprocally supported from the extension for longitudinal reciprocation relative thereto and its opposite ends are disposed for contact with the forwardly facing abutment surface of the piston and the rearwardly facing abutment surface of the follower whereby forward impact of the piston with the impact member will cause forward shifting of the follower.

United States Patent [72] Inventor James E. Eads 1000 W. Allen, Bloomington, Ind. 47401 [21] Appl. No. 14,006 [22] Filed Feb. 25, 1970 [45] Patented Aug. 17, 1971 [54] OFFSET HEAD RIVETING GUN 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

52 US. Cl 227 149,

3 72/391 51'] Int. Cl 825d 9/12 [50] Field of Search 227/51, 52,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,389,479 ll/l945 Austin 227/52 X 3,396,572 8/1968 Godsey 227/51 X Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. AttorneysClarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson I abutment surface while the piston includes a forwardly facing abutment surface. An elongated impact member is reciprocally supported from the extension for longitudinal reciprocation relative thereto and its opposite ends are disposed for contact with the forwardly facing abutment surface of the piston and the rearwardly facing abutment surface of the follower whereby forward impact of the piston with the impact member will cause forward shifting of the follower.

OFFSET HEAD RIVETING GUN The offset head riveting gun of the instant invention has been designed to provide a means whereby rivets of the type with which the gun is adapted to be used may be installed in locations unaccessible to conventional riveting guns.

The offset head riveting gun includes an elongated main body portion defining a fluid motor and an elongated head disposed forwardly of the main body portion and to one side of the latter. An elongated angulated extension rigidly connects the forward end of the main body of the gun and the rear end of the offset head and encloses an elongated reciprocal impact member whose opposite ends open into the main body portion and the angulated head. The main body portion has a piston reciprocal therein which may impact with the adjacent end of the elongated impact member and the remote end of the elongated impact member is disposed for abutment with a follower reciprocal longitudinally of the offset head along a path generally paralleling the main body of the gun. In this manner, forward impact of the piston in the body with the adjacent end of the impact member will cause the remote end of the impact member to impact with the follower and thus cause forward shifting of the latter relative to the offset head.

The offset of the head relative to the cylinder body enables the head to have access to certain areas in which conventional riveting guns may not be readily placed.

Although the riveting gun of the instant invention is illustrated and described hereinafter as being utilized with a specific type of rivet, it is to be noted that certain modifications may be made to the gun wherein it will be adapted to be utilized in conjunction with other types of rivets.

The main object of this invention is to provide a riveting gun with an offset head whereby riveting operations may be carried out in locations inaccessible toconventional riveting guns.

A further object of this invention is to provide a riveting gun in accordance with the immediately preceding object and ineluding components thereof which may be readily replaced by similar components having different dimensions so as to adapt the riveting gun for use in still further normally inaccessible area s.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a riveting gun which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the riveting gun of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged front elevational view of the riveting gun;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane indicated by section line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view of the forward end of the gun similar to the right hand portion of FIG. 3 but on somewhat of an enlarged scale and illustrating the gun in position to secure a rivet through a plurality of panel sections; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the plurality of panel sections illustrating in FIG. 5 with the rivet shown in position secured through the panel sections.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates the riveting gun of the instant invention. The gun 10 includes an elongated cylinder body referred to in general by the reference numeral 10 and including a front end 14 and a rear end 16.

The rear end of a slightly angulated extension 18 is secured to and closes the forward end 14 of the cylinder body 12. The extension 18 has a longitudinal bore 20 formed therethrough in which an impact rod 22 is reciprocal.

The extension 18 further includes a vent port 24 formed through its rear end which opens into the interior of the forward end of the cylinder body 12 and also a rearwardly facing threaded blind bore 26 in which the threaded forward end of a support rod 28 is secured. The rear end of the support rod 28 extends through the rear end 16 of the cylinder body 12 and a piston 30 is reciprocally disposed within the cylinder body 12 and includes a bore 32 formed axially therethrough in which the support rod 28 is slidingly received. The forward end of the bore 32 includes a counterbore 34 in which the rear end of a compression spring 36 disposed about the support rod 28 is seated. The forward end of the compression spring 36 bears against the rear face of the extension 18 and thus the compression spring 36 urges the piston 30 rearwardly through the cylinder body 12.

The rear end 16 of the cylinder body 12 includes a first cylindrical counterbore 40 in which a perforated disk 42 is seated and a second larger threaded counterbore 44 in which an externally threaded reducer fitting 46 is threadingly engaged. The forward end of the reducer fitting 46 bearings against the perforated or apertured disk 42 to secure the latter in seated position within the counterbore 40 and the reducer fitting 46 includes a central threaded bore 48 in which the externally threaded outlet neck 50 of a valve assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 52 is threadedly engaged. The valve assembly 52 is carried in a cylindrical body 54 whose forward end of the reducer fitting 46 and the rear end of the cylindrical body 54 is closed by means of a rear end wall 56.

The valve assembly 52 includes an actuator 58 and an externally threaded inlet neck 60 to which the male element 62 of a quick disconnect fitting is threadedly secured.

The valve assembly further includes a stem portion 64 which projects outwardly through a radial bore 66 and through which the actuator 58 is reciprocally received. In addition, the stem or stem portion 64 includes a lateral vent outlet opening 68 disposed exteriorly of the cylindrical body 54.

The operation of the valve assembly 52 is such that depression and inward displacement of the actuator 58 will communicate the inlet neck 60 with the outlet neck 50 and thus admit air under pressure into the cylinder body 12 behind the piston 30 from the air line 70 coupled to the male element 62. Further, the actuator 58 is spring urged outwardly and when released functions to terminate communication of the inlet neck with the outlet neck 50 and communicates the outlet neck 50 with the vent apertures 68. Accordingly. after air has been admitted into the cylinder body 12 behind the piston 30 to urge the latter forwardly through the cylinder body 12, release of the actuator 58 will enable the compression spring 36 to urge the piston 30 toward the left as viewed in FIG. 3 of the drawings to the rear end of the cylinder body 12.

The forward end of the extension 18 includes a threaded bore 72 which. generally parallels the cylinder body 12 and has its rear end closed by means of a threaded plug 74. The forward end of the bore 72 includes a diametrically enlarged counterbore 76 in which the reduced externally threaded neck portion 78 of an offset head referred to in general by the reference numeral 80.

The offset head 80 has a longitudinal bore 82 formed therethrough in which a follower or hammer 88 is reciprocal and the rear end of the bore 82 includes a diametrically enlarged counterbore 84 in which an abutment and piston head portion 86 of the follower or hammer 88 is slidingly received.

The forward end face of the head 80 through which the forward end of the bore 82 opens is concave as at 90 to seatingly receive the convex head 92 of a rivet referred to in general by the reference numeral 94. The rivet 94 includes a shank portion whose forward end defines a plurality of circumferentially spaced axial fingers 96 and the forward ends of the fingers 96 may be spread apart by forcing a cylindrical wedge member 98 forwardly through the axial bore 100 formed through the rivet 94.

In addition, the head 80 includes a longitudinally extending radial slot 102 in which the forward end of a wire spring retainer 104 is received. The rear end of the spring retainer 104 is anchored in a bore 106 provided therefor in the extension 18 by means of a setscrew 108. It will be noted that the forward end of the spring 104 is contoured in a manner so as to be received in the slot 102 and frictionally grip the cylindrical wedge member ofa rivet 94 positioned in the concave end face of the head 80 so as to retain the rivet 94 in position until the rivet has been inserted through aligned bores in a plurality of superposed panels such as panels 110, 112 and 114 to be secured together by means of the rivet 94.

hi operation, when it is desired to secure the rivet 94 through the panels 110, 112 and 114, the rivet 94 is seated in the concave end face 90 of the head 80 and retained in position by means of the spring retainer 104. Then, the riveting gun is manipulated so as to insert the forward end of the rivet 94 through the aligned apertures or bores formed in the panels 1 10, 112 and 1 14. Thereafter, the actuator 58 is depressed so as to admit air from the hose 70 into the rear end of the cylinder body 12 and cause rapid movement of the piston 30 forwardly through the cylinder body 12 into abutting engagement with the rear end of the impact rod 22. Impact of the piston 30 with the rear end of the impact rod 22 will cause the rod to shift forwardly through the bore and to impact with the rear face of the head 86 of the hammer or follower 88 so as to cause the latter to shift the cylindrical wedge member 98 of the rivet supported from the head 80 forwardly through the rivet to spread the fingers 96. Of course, as may be seen from FIG. 5 of the drawings, the cylindrical wedge member of the rivet 94 is received in the forward end of the bore 82 and the forward terminal end of the spring retainer 104 frictionally grips the cylindrical wedge member 98 which is supported from the rivet 94 so as to maintain the rivet 94 including its cylindrical wedge member 98 in the forward end of the offset head 80.

After the cylindrical wedge member 98 has been forced between the fingers 96 so as to spread the latter on the side of the panel 114 remote from the head 80, the actuator 58 is released so as to be spring urged outwardly to the position thereof wherein communication between the inlet neck 60 and the outlet neck 50 will be terminated and communication between the inlet neck 60 and the vent aperture 68 will be established thereby venting the rear end of the interior of the cylinder body 12 to the ambient atmosphere and allowing the compression spring 36 to return the piston to the rear end ofthe cylinder body 12 preparatory to further use of the riveting gun 10.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only ofthe princi ples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is as follows:

1. A first elongated guide structure including front and rear ends, an impact member guidingly supported from said guide structure for movement therealong, the front end of said guide structure including an elongated extension at least slightly angulated relative to said guide structure and also including front and rear ends, the front end of said extension having the rear end of a second elongated guide structure supported therefrom, said second guide structure being angulated relative to said extension and generally paralleling and disposed to one side of the first guide structure, a follower supported from said second guide structure for guided reciprocation therealong, an elon ated impact transmitting element guidingly supported rom said extension for longitudinal reciprocation therealong and including a rear end disposed for impact of said impact member therewith and a front end disposed for impact with said follower, whereby forward impact of said impact member with the rear end of said element will cause impact of the front end of said element with said follower to cause the latter to be shifted forwardly relative to said second guide structure.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first guide structure defines a cylinder bore and said impact member includes a piston reciprocal in said bore, the rear end of said element projecting into the front end portion of said cylinder bore.

3, The combination of claim 1 wherein said second guide structure defines an elongated riveting head, said head having a longitudinal bore formed therethrough, said follower being reciprocal in said passage and the front end of said element being disposed in said head bore for engagement with the rear end of said follower.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said head bore includes a rear counterbore portion, said follower including an enlarged head on its rear end reciprocal in said counterbore.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said element defines an elongated shank portion disposed forwardly of said head, said shank portion being disposed in said head bore and shorter than the latter whereby the forward end of said bore will extend beyond the forward end of said head bore when said enlarged head is seated in said counterbore.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first guide structure defines a cylinder bore and said impact member includes a piston reciprocal in said bore, the rear end of said element projecting into the front end portion of said cylinder bore, means venting the forward portion of said cylinder bore to the ambient atmosphere, means operative to selectively admit fiuid under pressure into and to vent fluid from the rear end of said cylinder bore, and means yieldingly biasing said piston rearwardly in said cylinder bore.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said second guide structure defines an elongated riveting head, said head having a longitudinal bore formed therethrough, said follower being reciprocal in said passage and the front end of said element being disposed in said head bore for engagement with the rear end ofsaid follower.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said head bore includes a rear counterbore portion, said follower including an enlarged head on its rear end reciprocal in said counterbore.

9. The combination of claim 8 wiisrein said element defines an elongated shank portion disposed forwardly c said head, said shank portion being disposed in said head bore and shorter than the latter whereby the forward end of said bore will extend beyond the forward end of said head bore Win '1 said enlarged head is seated in said counterbore. 

1. A first elongated guide structure including front and rear ends, an impact member guidingly supported from said guide structure for movement therealong, the front end of said guide structure including an elongated extension at least slightly angulated relative to said guide structure and also including front and rear ends, the front end of said extension having the rear end of a second elongated guide structure supported therefrom, said second guide structure being angulated relative to said extension and generally paralleling and disposed to one side of the first guide structure, a follower supported from said second guide structure for guided reciprocation therealong, an elongated impact transmitting element guidingly supported from said extension for longitudinal reciprocation therealong and including a rear end disposed for impact of said impact member therewith and a front end disposed for impact with said follower, whereby forward impact of said impact member with the rear end of said element will cause impact of the front end of said element with said follower to cause the latter to be shifted forwardly relative to said second guide structure.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first guide structure defines a cylinder bore and said impact member includes a piston reciprocal in said bore, the rear end of said element projecting into the front end portion of said cylinder bore.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second guide structure defines an elongated riveting head, said head having a longitudinal bore formed therethrough, said follower being reciprocal in said passage and the front end of said element being disposed in said head bore for engagement with the rear end of said follower.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said head bore includes a rear counterbore portion, said follower including an enlarged head on its rear end reciprocal in said counterbore.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said element defines an elongated shank portion disposed forwardly of said head, said shank portion being disposed in said head bore and shorter than the latter whereby the forward end of said bore will extend beyond the forward end of said head bore when said enlarged head is seated in said counterbore.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first guide structure defines a cylinder bore and said impact member includes a piston reciprocal in said bore, the rear end of said element projecting into the front end portion of said cylinder bore, means venting the forward portion of said cylinder bore to the ambient atmosphere, means operative to selectively admit fluid under pressure into and to vent fluid from the rear end of said cylinder bore, and means yieldingly biasing said piston rearwardly in said cylinder bore.
 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said second guide structure defines an elongated riveting head, said head having a longitudinal bore formed therethrough, said follower being reciprocal in said passage and the front end of said element bEing disposed in said head bore for engagement with the rear end of said follower.
 8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said head bore includes a rear counterbore portion, said follower including an enlarged head on its rear end reciprocal in said counterbore.
 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said element defines an elongated shank portion disposed forwardly of said head, said shank portion being disposed in said head bore and shorter than the latter whereby the forward end of said bore will extend beyond the forward end of said head bore when said enlarged head is seated in said counterbore. 